- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 August 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 6 October 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-17705 by Mr Tom McCabe on 3 August 2005, what percentage of civil service jobs were located in each of Scotland’s cities in each year since 1999, expressed also as a percentage of each city's population.
Answer
The information requested is shown in the following tables and is calculated on the basis of the number of permanent staff (full-time equivalent) at 1 April of each year in the core departments, associated departments and agencies within the Scottish Executive administration.
This information does not include details of civil service posts in other Government Departments located in Scotland, which are not held by the Scottish Executive.
Percentage of civil service jobs at 1 April of each year in the Scottish Executive’s administration which are located in each of Scotland’s cities:
| | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
| Aberdeen | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 3.6% |
| Dundee | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 1.1% |
| Edinburgh | 46.0% | 45.9% | 46.8% | 47.6% | 48.4% | 48.9% | 49.3% |
| Glasgow | 11.7% | 12.1% | 12.5% | 12.8% | 12.8% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Inverness | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.4% | 1.3% |
| Stirling | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
Civil service jobs at 1 April of each year in the Scottish Executive’s administration as a percentage of the population of the city in which they are located:
| | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
| Aberdeen | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Dundee | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Edinburgh | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.8% |
| Glasgow | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Inverness | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Stirling | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 29 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the review of NHS prescription charges to be completed.
Answer
We have not yet set a date for the commencement of the next phase of the review. We expect that phase to take three months from the date of commencement, and Cabinet consideration next year.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 29 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18320 by Mr Andy Kerr on 31 August 2005, what measures will be put in place to prepare for the impact on workload in secondary care, including increased demand for non-screening colonoscopy and pathology services, as identified by the UK cancer challenge pilot screening programme.
Answer
The Scottish Bowel Cancer Framework Group was established in 2004 in order to co-ordinate strategic planning and development to secure implementation of the Scottish Bowel Cancer Framework. The group will oversee service development in readiness for the national bowel cancer screening programme.
We are investing in the expansion of the endoscopy workforce in Scotland. An extra 25 nurse endoscopists will commence training from January 2006 at Glasgow Caledonian University. We are also expanding medical endoscopy training from 2005 by funding 50 “train the trainer” courses and 100 skills courses which will result in improved on the job support for new nurse endoscopists. In addition, we are maximising existing endoscopy capacity through the redesign of endoscopy suites and current working practices.
We have provided £60,000 to fund the establishment of a Scottish Pathology Network and the recruitment of a network manager. A colorectal sub-group of the network will focus on the bowel screening programme, with a view to sharing knowledge and experience gained during the pilot, providing a network wide approach to education, training and development and ensuring value for money by maximising the efficient use of existing pathology resources. We have also invested £600,000 to support PathAlba, a Scottish pathology telemedicine initiative, which will ensure that specialist pathology expertise is available for the benefit of patients across Scotland irrespective of geographical location.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 26 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take if demand for independent advocacy services exceeds supply in the next three years.
Answer
If demand for independent advocacy services proved to meet supply during the next three years the Scottish Executive will consider what action, if any, might be appropriate for it to take in the particular circumstances which gave rise to that situation.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 26 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how it has assessed the capacity of independent advocacy services to meet the needs of people with mental health problems in light of the requirements in respect of advocacy in the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has assessed the position on the basis of the plans and updates provided to it through the joint local implementation planning process and progress reports and through discussion with the Advocacy Safeguards Agency which has itself assessed and provided feedback to local areas on their advocacy plans.
All local authorities and health boards have agreed additional allocations for these services and in most areas new staff or services are already in place.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 26 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to monitor the uptake and impact of independent advocacy services in light of the requirements in respect of advocacy in the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.
Answer
All local authorities and health boards will monitor the uptake of advocacy services closely. It is difficult to predict the level of demand for advocacy under the new Act. Our on-going monitoring and other contact with local agencies will continue to include attention on progress and delivery of the advocacy commitments.
The Mental Welfare Commission has a duty under the new Act to monitor its operation which would include individual’s access to advocacy services.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 26 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial input has been made by each local authority to ensure that the requirement under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 to provide access to independent advocacy for every person with a mental disorder is met.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 26 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance will be given to sufferers of chronic illnesses who are not eligible for free prescriptions to help meet the costs of their prescriptions and essential treatments until the review of NHS prescription charges is completed.
Answer
The current prescription charge exemption arrangements are designed to protect those who are most likely to have difficulty paying charges.
A person can be exempt from payment of NHS prescription charges on grounds of age, receipt of certain passporting benefits e.g., income support, or because they suffer from one of the chronic medical conditions which confer exemption.
In addition, people who are not exempt but have a low income may be able to get help with charges under the NHS Low Income Scheme.
Prescription pre-payment certificates can offer savings for people who do not qualify for free NHS prescriptions if the patient needs more than five items in a four month period, and if patient needs more than 14 items in 12 month period.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 26 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial input has been made by each NHS board to ensure that the requirement under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 to provide access to independent advocacy for every person with a mental disorder is met.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee East, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 26 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all existing stoma care nurse positions will remain after April 2006; how stoma care nursing will be funded after this date, and whether it will provide details of any planned changes which may affect stoma care nurses' employment or working practices after this date.
Answer
The Executive has no plans to reduce the number of stoma care nurse positions in Scotland after April 2006.
Funding and employment and working practices of all nurse posts is a matter for the employing or contracting NHS board.
All funding currently provided centrally for the provision of stoma appliances, from which appliance contractors either provide sponsorship moneys or employ directly nurses working in hospitals or the community will transfer directly to NHS boards with effect from 1 April 2006.
NHS boards are now reviewing the position of nurses not currently employed by them but who provide stoma care in hospitals or the community, to ensure that those affected nurses who wish to do so can continue their employment within the NHS.
These new more equitable funding arrangements allow NHS boards the financial flexibility to design future stoma services which will better meet the needs of patients and be more transparent and accountable.
